Page 82 of The Charmer

"So, they're not... I mean, they weren't mad that you introduced me to their friends as your girlfriend?"

"They knew from Beckett before they came to your store. Clearly, they’re not mad. Why would they be?"

"Because I'm not part of this world." Her hands drifted out like she was trying to show me something.

"Georgie, let's get one thing straight. Kyle Deveraux and his brother, they're not good people."

Georgie didn't reply. I stopped in place, and she did the same. I wanted her full attention for this.

"A lot of families in the city think like that," she replied eventually.

"Not mine.”

She sighed heavily. “I hate that he made me feel so small. Before dating Kyle, I never, not once, thought I wasn’t good enough. But he kept on with this status crap, and I just began to feel inferior. Stupid, I know.”

"He’s such a useless ass, and one of these days, I will kick him and his brother out of the Quarter. Swear to God, I will."

"Don't say things like that. "

"I mean it. They’ve gotten away with a lot of stuff for far too long."

"Well, whatever. You don't have to do that on my account."

"Trust me, Georgie, I’d be doing you and the entire Quarter a favor.”

She laughed, but I could tell she was a bit wary.

"After things with him ended," she said quietly, "I swore to myself that I'd never date someone like him again."

My muscles stiffened. "I'm not like him."

“I wasn't implying that you are. He's an asshole, and you're the opposite. You're amazing."

I grinned. "Yeah. That's more like it, see? Keep thinking like that."

"What I meant is... from his world, the upper crust of New Orleans."

"Georgie, it isn’t like that, not now. Sure, there’s old money, and some in the older generation might feel superior, just like Kyle and his brother, but believe me, they’re not. He made it seem like that because he loves feeling above everyone else. But all these invitations, all these parties, they're not my life. They're just something I do because it's good for business. It's not who I am."

She tilted her head, smiling. "I know that. God, I can't believe you're so different from my initial impression."

"Humor me. What was your first impression?"

"You sure you want to know?" She laughed, taking the last step as we turned onto Burgundy Street. The Quarter really was filling up quickly, and I knew she would prefer to be in her shop with her clients. "Arrogant. An asshole."

"Fucking hell, that was harsh. I understand arrogant, but why an asshole?"

"I couldn't believe that you would just brush me off on your employees."

"I thought everyone did that," I replied without thinking, which prompted her to burst out laughing. “I mean delegate.”

"Ah, see? Big difference between you and me. I actually thought no one did that except if they wanted to be extra asshole-ish." We reached her store far too quickly. "Oh my God. How is it so full?" She tensed up as her front window came into view.

"People know where to go. That's a good thing."

"You are really buttering me up this morning. I wonder why."

"I just want you to have a good day."

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